on-jiwi pa./? Emerald Sports Standing on top of The Pit’ By Erick Studenicka and Marion Suitor Emerald Writers Seventy-two stops up from the Oregon home court floor exists the most unique sooting section in ail of college basketball. It is the only seating section in the country that comes with a warning: NO CHILDREN IN FRONT ROW SEATS. It is the only seating section in the country that has wooden benches better suited for a park than an athletic arena. And it is the only seating se< • lion in the country that gives spectators the feeling they are literally "on top of the a«4ion The usual name of the section is the third balcony of McArthur Court. Hut other terms such as "the cheap seats" and "the nose bleed level" could just as easily describe the section. The balcony was built in 1975 to raise the capacity of Mac Court to its present day limit of 10,068. The height of the bal cony is equivalent to that of a four-story office window. Although the seats may be the "cheapest" in the building, from the balcony's vantage point one can view the entire court clearly, something not always possible from many student and reserved stalls One student said the balcony seats, which are offset from the court by only 20 feet, are the best seats in the house "I love the view from up here." said freshman Mark Cor coran "I can actually see (Ore gon coach) Jerry Green drawing up the plays." Sophomores Charlie Minich. &y Or**1 CemW* Duck fans p#f a bird's oyo vfow from tho fop <#v*f of McArthur Court. Tho soots may bo "choop, “ but to many thoy'ro tho boot In tho houso Ryan liartrell and Rvan Vander hoof said they sit in the balcony so they can lean over and pound on the balcony's wooden front when the crowd's rhythmic clapping begins. "Plus, we sat here when the team beat Washington." said Minich. "So we re going to sit here as long as the winning streak continues." Because a fall from the bal cony's height would cause seri ous injury, the balcony is fenced in by wire to prevent accidents. Stove Baldwin, a University law school graduate who was attending the Washington State game with his seven-year-old daughter Skylar, said he takes the "No Children in the Front Row" warning seriously. "As you c an see. I'm silting in ibn third row Up here. if my daughter slips while she's play ing. it's a one row fall." Baldwin said "II she's down on the edge, it's the end of the story " For those fans who find the student section a hit i laustro phohu , the third balcony pro vides an escape "We re seniors, and we got tired of the student suction thing.” said Michael Freudun thal. "And we i an get here two minutes before the game and still get front-row seats " Matt Tierney, a seventh grad er at Cal-Young Middle School, said he and Ins friends sit in the third balcony bet ause of their Turn to BALCONY. Pago 12 DONT PANIC OVER ESSAY EXAMS!! INSTEAD, LEARN HOW TO CONTROL YOUR ANXIETY AND IMPROVE YOUR EXAM WRITING SKILLS Taking Essay Exams with Confidence A Workshop for University Students This Saturday, February 27 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost: $10 Room 336 Gilbert Workshop topics will include: Coping with anxiety; learning to relax Predicting test questions Organizing notes for effective review Organizing ideas efficiently Using successful exam-writing strategies Overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors Using study questions for effective review Creating your own study questions To Register: Contact Academic Learning Services 68 PLC 346-3226 COME TO Tilt: MOUNTAINS Thu SUMMER live ami work, in the nidflmfu ent (Irani! Teton National I’.irk in |at k*on Hole. Wyoming One of the mi«l «|M>? • What can we do to help and learn tu aceep* ou rselvis? • How much exerci When: March 2 (Tg March 4 (T Where; Oregon West Fit? 1475 Franklin Blvd 485-1624 1 Sludtnl flmlth Cfnttr't i nt Pwf4m